Holiday rentals in Umbria, Italy

Italy

On December 8 is the yearly Feast of the Immaculate Conception in Italy. The day before in every small town or city the Italian people prepare the Christmas tree. Many activities and festivities are held around the Christmas season. The squares are transformed into a mix of lights and stalls where vendors sell their handmade gifts.

Yearly I visit the Christmas markets in Assisi and Perugia, but this time I wanted to go to the market in Paciano. Paciano is a small and calm hamlet with a few inhabitants.

Maybe I didn’t come at the right time in Paciano, but there weren’t many market stalls and visitors. I have asked a local for the program but neither he couldn’t inform me.

After a good espresso in the bar I decided to take a walk through the centre just to be sure that I didn’t miss anything. Maybe there were only three market stalls hidden in local shops. This Christmas market wasn’t really what I was looking for, unfortunately. Nevertheless, I took some pictures and I went to Panicale, a lovely village not far form Paciano.

Before arriving in Panicale I knew I could not expect more Christmas market than in Paciano, but on the other hand Panicale is lovely and always worth a visit. Even if you decide to take a drink or just a stroll in the historical centre.

On the square in Panicale was a huge Christmas tree. Also the bars and restaurants were full with Christmas decorations.

To be honest this all wasn’t really what I expected before visiting Paciano and Panicale. Both villages seemed to be a bit lost. But I must admit, Panicale and Paciano remain idyllic even though in winter time there are less things to see and to do.

August 15 is a bank holiday in Italy: Ferragosto. This national holiday celebrates the Assumption of the virgin Mary into heaven, the day when Catholics believe that God took the body of Jesus’ mother Mary into heaven to reunite with her son.

August is the traditional period for Italians to have their summer holidays. On August 15 many Italians go out for a picknick in a park or a barbecue in the garden. And many Italians make trips to the seaside or in the mountains to cool off.

This year on August 15 we decided to make a bike tour along the Trasimeno Lake with some friends. In the early morning we prepared our lunch and we started at 10.30 am with our mountainbike tour in Magione, Perugia.

Castiglione del Lago

Sant Arcangelo

From Magione we headed for Sant’Arcangelo, Castiglione del Lago and Tuoro sul Trasimeno. The cycle paths between Castiglione del Lago and Borghetto are a bit bumpy and narrow, but it was easy to pass by. Along the lake in Tuoro sul Trasimeno we found a wonderful picknick area for our small lunch.

After our picknick in Tuoro sul Trasimeno we headed for Passignano sul Trasimeno. Passignano is a lovely village along the lake. In the centre we found a small fountain where we filled our water bidon. The temperatures were about 30 degrees and biking without any drinks is not recommended. We needed fuel to continue. From Passignano we cycled to San Feliciano where it was crowded with people.

San Feliciano is only a few kilometres away from Magione where we parked our car. But, before getting there we had to make a huge climb to San Savino. San Savino is a small hill town along the lake.

The last kilomteres were only down hill to Magione. What a relief!

Lago Trasimeno

This cycle tour along the Trasimeno Lake is fantastic and is suitable for adults and for trained cyclists. The trail around the lake is quite flat and the total distance is about 70 km. A mountainbike is recommended. The path along the lake is fairly new and has been made especially for cyclists and tourists in Italy.

The picknick areas along the lake are wonderful. You do not need to get there by bike, but also on feet from Tuoro sul Trasimeno you’ll get there quite easily.

Everybody knows “pizza”. Maybe it is the most famous Italian dish in the world. Italians themselves love eating pizza. On every corner of the street you can get a slice, a “pizza al taglio”. The toppings on the pizza vary from fish to meat, from fresh fruit to only vegetables.

La Serra is a restaurant-pizzeria outside the city centre of Perugia. La Serra literally means greenhouse. It used to be a greenhouse: nowadays the restaurant has a long and narrow structure and is very large serving many guests. At the entrance are large craft beer brewers, though they do not seem to be in use. The restaurant does serve some special beers, though.

Often the restaurant is crowded with mainly local people. La Serra is not known by tourists because of its location outside the historical centre of Perugia. It is close to the football stadion.

Coming here for the first time you’ll be surprised by the size of the pizza. One pizza takes two plates to serve! It is hard to imagine finishing this mega pizza, but no worries. Within minutes you’ll finish the first half. It is a very thin pizza and not difficult to digest. You’ll love it!

The menu of the mega pizza is variable. On the placemat menu is a list of the “Super Mega Pizza Speciale”. But the menu also offers classics like the Pizza Margherita or the Pizza 4 Formaggi. For children there is a “baby pizza” which has the normal pizza size. If you don’t feel like having a mega pizza, the restaurant also offers good pasta and meat dishes.

If you really can’t get to the end of your pizza, you can ask a take away pizza box. Don’t hesitate to ask for a box, many people do!